Vehicular traffic reported on the Mumbai-Goa highway near Maanngaon and Indapur in Raigad district of Maharashtra on Saturday morning, February 28, leading to long queues of vehicles mostly cars, up to 3 km. The traffic occurred due to Mumbai residents traveling to Konkan villages for Holi celebrations. Such traffic jams are expected to persist for the next three days.
As huge tourists are expected to travel to Konkan for Holi and Dhuli Vandana celebrations, the Raigad Traffic Police issued a traffic notification and implemented measures easy of commenters during the festival. The Raigad Police traffic branch has planned traffic management on the Mumbai-Goa Highway, Wadkhal-Alibaug-Revdanda-Murud route, Khopoli-Pali-Nizampur-Mangaon and Karjat-Khopoli routes. A large police force has been deployed at key locations on Saturday, February 28.
Thousands of people head to their native villages in Konkan during the festive period. This time it's a long-weekend as there is a Holi holiday for schools and offices on Monday and Tuesday. This is expected to draw a high number of tourists, which is likely to increase vehicular traffic on major district roads.
Also Read | Mumbai–Pune Expressway Traffic Update: Vehicular Jams Reported Towards Pune Amid Long Holi Weekend.
To ensure smooth movement and avoid traffic jams, the district traffic branch will deploy four officers, 70 traffic police personnel, 50 home guards and 50 volunteers along major routes. Additional staff from local police stations will also be involved.
Owing to recurring congestion at Indapur and Mangaon on the Mumbai–Goa Highway, Raigad Police have advised motorists to use the Khopoli–Pali–Nizampur–Mangaon–Mahad route as an alternative.
Heavy Vehicles Banned on Alibaug–Revdanda Route
A notification has been issued imposing restrictions on heavy vehicles on the Alibaug–Revdanda route. Heavy traffic will be banned from 9 am to 12 pm and from 5 pm to 7 pm on Saturday, with essential services exempted.
The decision comes as cement-concreting, culvert and bridge construction is underway at a rapid pace on both the Alibaug–Kurul–Belkade–Sahan Bypass–Nagaon–Revdanda and Alibaug–Kurul–Navedarbeli–Akshi–Nagaon–Revdanda roads. Commuters travelling to the Revdanda–Murud area have been urged to use the Roha–Chanera–Revdanda–Murud route via Nagothane–Bhisekhind.